Since 1913

Swanndri Journal Swanndri Journal

The history of Swanndri

The history of Swanndri The history of Swanndri

Most people spend the two days before Christmas worrying about last-minute presents, but not William Broome. On December 23rd, 1913, he trademarked what's become New Zealand's most iconic outerwear brand.

Designed to keep you dry like a swan's plumage, Broome devised the name Swanndri. Perhaps it was a particularly rainy summer at his home in Taranaki, or perhaps Broome just had the foresight to know that Kiwi weather can turn in an instant. Either way, from day one, Swanndri was designed to keep rural New Zealanders comfortable no matter what the weather threw at them: from bitterly cold and wet winter mornings to hot, harsh summer afternoons.

People often ask us why the company wasn't named after the more famous bird known for keeping water off its back. Easy decision: "Swanndri" sounds better than "Duckdri".

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